Travel in Denmark

On this site you will find practical travel information about Denmark.

Time Differences: Denmark uses Central European Time, which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, and two hours ahead when European Summer Time (April to October) is in force.

Business hours:Offices open normally between 8.00-9.00 a.m. and close between 4.00-5.00 p.m.

Shops and department stores: Open between 9.00-10.00 a.m. and close between 5.30-7.00 p.m. on weekdays. Department stores and shopping precincts extend opening hours to 8.00 p.m. on Fridays. On Saturdays shops are open from 9.00 a.m. till between 2.00-4.00 p.m.Food stores are open on Sundays.

Nyhavn, Copenhagen

The Danish Railway System:Links to Central Europe via Hamburg to the south, and via Elsinore and with the Øresund-tunnel to Sweden-Norway-Finland to the north.Domestic services are based upon intercity trains operating at hourly frequencies to the main cities. The Copenhagen-Aarhus journey takes about 3 hours.Ferry Services:Denmark's many islands are linked by ferry services, and regular car or car-rail ferry services are in operation from Denmark to Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Poland, Northern Germany and the Baltic States.

Roadways:Main road connections to Denmark are either overland from Germany or by the Puttgarden-Rodby ferry service. To Sweden over the Øresund-bridge. To the north, there are also regular ferry connections between Denmark and Sweden-Norway-Finland from Copenhagen and Elsinore, and a number of services from Jutland ports to Sweden and Norway.Currency:The krone is Denmark's unit of currency. One krone = 100 ore. Amounts less than one krone are rounded to the nearest 50 ore, which is the smallest coin in circulation.Coin denominations are 50 ore, and 1,2,5,10 and 20 kroner.Bank notes are in denominations DKK 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000.

Banks:Normally open Monday-Friday from 9.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., many branches extend opening hours on Thursday.Most branches have an automatic cash machine which accepts international bank cards.

Cheques/Credit Cards:Personal cheques drawn on foreign banks are normally not accepted. Eurocheques and travellers cheques can be cashed at banks. Credit Cards are accepted where the appropriate sign is displayed, and the number is increasing.

VAT:Denmark has a single Value Added Tax rate of 25%. Shop prices include VAT, but business prices are often quoted without VAT, since the tax is deductible. Foreign visitors can reclaim VAT paid in Denmark on private purchases (minimum value for Scandinavians is DKK 1,200, for other nationalities DKK 600) and many retail stores are able to help customers with this service. However, citizens of European Union member-states cannot reclaim VAT.

Hotels:Apart from the peak tourist season or when major trade fairs or exhibitions are taking place it is normally not difficult to find hotel accommodation in the Danish capital or main cities. Prices vary according to standard, but generally reflect the average price level prevailing throughout northern Europe. Bookings can be made in advance by telephone, or arranged through travel companies.

Tips:Tipping is not mandatory in Denmark. A service charge is sometimes included in hotel and restaurant bills.

Electricity:The main voltage in Denmark is 220V AC. Appliance sockets use plugs with two round pins (the earth pin is not fitted).

Medicine:Larger towns have a dispensing chemist's service open at all hours for emergency dispensing. For less urgent medicine, look for the sign Apotek.

Emergency:Directions to obtain emergency medical and dental assistance can be obtained by dialling 112 (Alarm - free of charge), from hotel staff or hospitals.